"Stop trying so hard to be interesting and get interested."
Those are the words that Jim Collins' mentor at the Stanford Business School taught him in his first year as a teacher. That cuts deep because it's so true, isn't it? We spend so much time thinking about ourselves and working for ourselves. It's the way of our world now; If I don't get to it first, someone else will. But here's the problem, living for ourselves in that way is one of the few things that is guaranteed to give us less than we wanted. Creating a better business posture will help us achieve much more than we thought possible!
I can't prove this theory to you in figures, but I know the following to be true:
In our culture today it's all about "me, me, me". As much as we all want to deny it, it is true. We have this mentality that others should want to help us, want to be a part of what we're doing. But the reality is that they won't unless we do something for them. So, instead of grasping and trying to latch onto whatever may fall into our palms, let's begin pouring out and touching others. This is not going to happen over night. Like I always say, "The opportunity doesn't start when have a dream, it starts when you start working for the dream."
So, how can you build a better posture for your brand + your business?
1. Make it count: Each sale, interaction, referral, Facebook post, email, etc. In all that you do, make it count toward the bigger picture. This doesn't always mean the coveted mega dollar sale, it can though! But it can also mean, making interactions impactful. What is your friend/customer/acquaintance going to walk away from you thinking about?
2. Passion Sells: When you're excited about something, that excitement is contagious; perhaps even Infectious! If you aren't showing your genuine enthusiasm for your business, your results will be mediocre at best. You're running your business because you are passionate- at least you should be! Either way, how you feel about your business is resonating with those you interact with. Be thinking about what you want people to remember about their interaction with you and your business.
3. You're Not Selling Used Cars: We've all said it... "I don't want to be that salesperson." You won't be if you are being yourself. Instead of constantly thinking about the sale, be thinking about the buyer. What are his/her needs, wants, desires? What's his/her life like? How can you better serve your customer/client? When we change our mindsets from, "I'm being a pushy salesperson" to "I'm serving someone's needs" we see a drastic change in not only our businesses but our relationships!
So, take a posture not of grasping at whatever passes by, but of pouring out. When a marketing campaign fails, technology doesn't work or a sale doesn't go through, don't allow it to get you down. Stand back up, reinvest in those relationships and keeping moving forward. How can you turn a previously failed attempt or a lackluster relationship into something that flourishes not just for your own gain, but for the betterment of self?
This week, my challenge to you is to find your better business posture and share your plans in the comments below.
